State Senator Cliff Hite (R-Findlay) this week announced the Senate passage of legislation to address and prevent sudden cardiac arrest in Ohio's student-athlete population.

The legislation, known as "Lindsay's Law," calls for pre-participation education, online training for coaches, and guidelines for recognizing and dealing with the symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest. It aims at raising awareness of sudden cardiac arrest to ensure preparedness and proper response in the event of medical emergencies.

Hite, a former educator and football coach, knew firsthand that awareness has the potential to save lives. Sudden Cardiac Arrest is the number one cause of death in student-athletes nationwide.

"I just cannot imagine losing somebody because we haven't taken the time to learn more about this," said Hite. "As a former coach and educator I realized that if we raise awareness of this often-preventable condition lives could be saved."

Senator Hite traveled the state last year to hold public forums to hear from parents, coaches and medical experts on the issue among others.

"If nothing else, this bill will educate and raise awareness about Sudden Cardiac Arrest," said Hite. "This is a chance for all of us to save lives."

An online video would inform coaches of symptoms to better identify the onset of sudden cardiac arrest in their young athletes. The budget neutral legislation, modeled after concussion legislation that has passed in all 50 states, will be await consideration in the Ohio House of Representatives.

Senate Bill 252 is named for national heart health advocate and former Miss Ohio Lindsay Davis who suffers from a heart condition and has since dedicated her career to raising awareness of this potentially fatal condition.

"Sudden cardiac arrest is the number one killer of student athletes," said Davis. "At any moment I could have died because coaches and teachers had no idea this was even a possibility for someone who looked as healthy as I did at that age."

"I'm honored to join this distinguished group of community leaders as we promote opportunities that help spur job creation here in southern Ohio," said Uecker. "Programs supported by the foundation also play an important role in improving quality of life for families across the region."

“Judy's tragic story highlighted a particularly heinous type of crime, which leads to permanent disfigurement or even death,” said President Obhof, who co-sponsored the bill. “No one should have to suffer through what she experienced over the past two years. This new law will ensure that prison sentences more accurately reflect the severity and cruelty of these types of attacks.”

Back-to-school shopping can be tough on families, as you try to stretch every dollar as far as it can go. Clothing, books, pens, notepads… it all really starts to add up. In the Ohio Senate, we know that Ohio’s families could use some help, and we are committed easing the burdens that government adds to the mix. That is why, for the third year in a row, the General Assembly has passed the Ohio Sales Tax Holiday to assist parents during the back-to-school shopping season.

"It is an honor to recognize Ohio's Dairy Producers for their contributions to the food agricultural industry in this state," said Peterson. "Ice cream is one of the best parts of summer. For this delicious treat, we owe our gratitude to the hard working men and women who rise before daybreak every day to tend to their cows in the milking parlors. Ohio's dairy farmers love the work that they do, and we love that they do it."